Vera Wang is synonymous with bridal gowns. Her influence extends far beyond the elite fashion circles of New York, Paris, London, and Milan. But what is the Vera Wang success story? If you do not know who she is, I will take it as confirmation that you’re disinterested in fashion and successful women.
It is impossible to escape hearing about fashion designer Vera Wang if you’ve ever heard of a celebrity wedding. Her bridal gowns have been praised for making women feel empowered and ethereal all at the same.
So, how did a 40-year-old woman go from fashion editor to bridal designer, and a successful one at that? Read on to find out how this now 72-year-old shows us that age is just a number, which has no place in your dreams.
Who is Vera Wang
The answer to the question, who is Vera Wang, is ever-evolving.
Fashion designer Vera Wang, initially, aspired to be a figure skater. The child of Chinese immigrants, she started figure skating at the age of eight, but failed to make it to the US Olympic team. Not one to mope around, she decided to enter the fashion industry. Immediately after graduation, she was hired by Vogue as a fashion editor.
She attributes her interest in fashion to her mother, who according to her was a “clothes horse.”
After 17 years at Vogue, she left the magazine in 1987, after losing out to Anna Wintour for the position of editor-in-chief. She then moved to Ralph Lauren for two years.
The Vera Wang Success Story
Just shy of her 40th birthday, Vera Wang struggled to find a bridal gown that suited her taste. Her father pointed out her struggles for what they really were – a remarkable business opportunity. She eventually ended up designing her own wedding gown and found a dressmaker to tailor it for her.
Albeit skeptical, Vera Wang resigned from Ralph Lauren and took her father’s help to launch her own business. He gifted her with $4 million to set up shop and encouraged her to make her own space in the market. She rented out a boutique in New York City and the Vera Wang Bridal House was born in 1990. At her boutique, she would cater to celebrities and socialites alike. She soon started adding her own designs to the premium designer collections at her store. The small boutique was the start of the Vera Wang success story.
So how did Vera Wang become famous? By proving her mettle, that’s what.
Wang’s designs found favor with the clients and soon many started asking her for custom-pieces. In the meantime, she expanded her clothing line to include cocktail dresses, blazers, and minis. Vera Wang clothing soon became a must-have for fashionistas. During this time, her Vogue connection helped propel her into the limelight. The fashion magazine devoted six pages to her bridal house, showcasing her designs, which led brides to her doorstep. Soon, her designs were coveted by the who’s who of the fashion industry, establishing her brand.
Fashion designer Vera Wang was no longer a mythical concept. She was popular, unique, and coveted for her sophisticated-yet-timeless designs.
The bridal line grew by leaps and bounds, as did Vera Wang’s accomplishments. She went on to open boutiques in international locations, including Tokyo, Sydney, and London. Vera Wang entrepreneur started making it to lists of self-made millionaires. She expanded her collections to cover fragrances, eye wear, shoes, and jewelry. Her brand has been immortalized in TV shows and added to must-have lists of the uber-rich. Wang also collaborates with mainstream brands like Kohl’s, David’s Bridal, and Zales.
The Vera Wang success story is an inspiration to women across the world as she shows us how to defy age and expectations. She admits that she has sometimes questioned her choices, especially to start a bridal line with no prior experience in business, but she also states that it gives her far more joy than she imagined.
At the end of the day, fashion designer Vera Wang is a tireless powerhouse who believes that as long as she continues to learn, she can keep working on her one true passion – fashion.
